New MotoGP Rule on Restarting Bikes: Could it Endanger Riders' Lives?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - MotoGP has recently implemented a new safety regulation concerning the procedure for restarting bikes that have fallen on the track. Instead of enhancing safety, this regulation is considered to potentially trigger the risk of fatal accidents for the riders.

Quoted from RideApart, this new rule mandates that any bike whose engine has stalled after a fall must be taken to the service road first before it can be restarted.

Previously, marshals were allowed to assist riders in performing a push start on the edge of the track.

This decision was made to minimize the risk to the marshals. However, the impact is that riders are now “forced” to take drastic measures to prevent their engines from stalling and to be able to resume the session quickly.

This is considered very risky for people in the area when the session is still ongoing.

The problem is that this rule creates a new incentive for riders not to let go of their bikes when a lowside occurs. At the French GP (Le Mans) last weekend, Fermin Aldeguer demonstrated how dangerous the ambition to keep the engine running can be.

This type of fall is reminiscent of the tragedy that claimed the life of Marco Simoncelli. When a rider tries to “save” a bike that has lost control in order to return to the track, they could end up entering the path of other riders who are traveling at high speed without having time to react.

The qualifying session is the most critical moment. With very limited time, riders do not have the luxury of taking their bikes to the service road. They will do anything to be able to accelerate again immediately.

It should be noted that the number of accidents in the qualifying session is often higher than during the race. If riders continue to be pressured not to let go of their bikes when they fall in order to chase time, the risk of chain accidents will increase.

Indeed, there is no perfect rule, but the MotoGP authorities need to review whether this protection for marshals is actually creating a new deadly trap for their own riders on the track.

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